The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-05-15


carry home specimen of the exquisite
fruit. Gradually. as | caressed them with
my eyes, the desire, to possess them as
sumed more determined form. de-
cded that would not only have one, but
two of those beautiful peaches. But how I?
That was The question that puzzled me.
The servants in attendance kept the
striclest watch upon The basket, for NJ,
Tabaraud. the director, had reserved TO
himself the pleasure of offering 10 a privi-
legged few this product of Cheviet's in
dustry.
"From time to time, at sign from him
the head waiter would take peach, dam
tily cut it in two, and present the halves
to the persons designated. greedlly
watched The economical arrangement and
tremblingIy saw the pyramid grow smaller
and smaller. However, when the feast
was over, and the guests recalled to the
dancing hail by prelude from the or
chestra, the instructions had been SO dis
creetly carried out that there still remain
ed half dozen or so of the wonderful
fruit lying imbedded intheir nest of leaves.
i went with the crowd, of course, but
ii was false sortie, for | hao purposcly
left my hat behind me-a tail stOve-pipe,
which had occasioned me world of trou
VIC all luiOu9u LuG CfCulLS5 ~ uQtl llC
preteXt of regaining it | could return to
the sale, and. perhaps, for [ was we'll
known to the domes les of the house, oh
tain a peach. When l re entered the
room the walters were engaged in carry
ing to the pantry the remnants of the
spread. At certain moment | found
myself entirely alone and near the buffet
Gu which had been placed the dish of fruit.
There was not second TO lose, approach
ed the basket, and quick as Lightning,
rolled two of the peaches into my hat,
adroitly covering them with my hand.
Carefully holding the hat against my
breast, returned to the ballroom, my in
tention being to cross it quietly. and slip
away, like the English, and when once
outside to run every step OF the way home.
"lL was not as easy to do this as | had
imagined, for they were beginning the CO.
tillion. and all around the grand salon
there was a double row of black coats and
wall flowers surrounding a third row
formed by the chairs of the dancers;
and in the middle of this third ring a
great empty space in which the couples
of TIE colillion could waltz. Cautiously
insinuating myself between the groups l
glided around the chairs with the noiseless
fiexibiiity of the serpent, dreading at every
step that some unwary elbow would strike
the hat and disodge the spoils. | could
distinctly feel the tossing about of the
peaches as | walked along.
cat last, after a great deal of troubl g
and innumerable scares, entered the
space just opposite the door of entrance
as they were forming the 'coquette figure.
A lady was in the centre of the ring, the
gentlemen clustering in circle around
her AS you know, when the cavalier
presents himself with whom she wishes to
waltz, size places hat which she holds in
her hand upon his head and away they go.
''The lady in the centre of the room was
Mile. Tabaraud, the daughter of my chief.
| mad scarcely taken step across the
floor when she sd me and came running
towards me.
You are just ia the nick of time, Mr..
Herhelot, " said she, "quick, give US your
hat And before | could escape or stam--
mer a protest the hat was whisked from
my hand and those internal first of the
seasons went spinning over the floor.
Imagine the tableau; the dancers Uttered,
The director frowned, the wall flowers ex-
claimed and Mile. Tarabraud was trans
fixed. Red as beet, and with my teeth
cha tering with mortal chill, l stood like
a fool the cynosure of all eyes.
Take back your hat, Mr.. Herbelot, :"
said the lady at last in voice choked with
emotion, "and pick up your peaches"
''At this the people, no longer able to
restrain themselves, burst into fits of
laughter. Even the domestics Joined IN
the merrrlment. Haggard and staggering
with confusion, hastily fed from the
salon.
"The next day the story was al over
town. and when | entered the office | was
greeted with shouts of Pick up your
peaches, IA. Herbelot; take back your hat. ;
1t was unbearable, and it was the same
thing in the street. Everywhere | went
was pointed at and whispered about, fol-
lowed with the hooking chorus.
'.The town was untenable. Eight days
from that fatal night / resigned from the
flee and entered upon course OF farm
ing as assistant to my wife's uncle, who
owned a place in the enyirons ofmy native
city
with better liking for the calling of
farmer than | had ever had for official
documents, it was but little while before
was an eminent agriculturist. In fact,
the land prospered SO well in my hands
that the old gentleman left it to us in his
will. Since then | have constantly en-
larged my enterprises until now / am at
the satisfactory stage in which you see
me-
BY this time we had reached the farm
of Chauteraine. Entering by the orchard
way. we passed through row after row of
trees, heavy with apples, pears and
ounces AT the extremity of the enclos-
ure a hiily slope rolled to the waters edge
covered with a network of vines and
masses. of ripening grapes. The clatter of
machinery to the left indicated the
granary. To the right was the farm
house, the white walls cheerfully shining
through an espalier of loaded peach trees.
"1he most OF my attention is devoted to
peaches. as you see, said Herbelot, as we